Joe Connolly to Be Focused on Automotive Dealers Throughout the Western United States

IRVINE, CA--(Marketwired - Jun 6, 2013) - BMO Harris Bank announced today that it has hired Joe Connolly to expand is dealership finance business into California. Connolly will be based in Irvine and will be focused on customers throughout the western United States.

"We're a rapidly expanding dealership finance business, one that is focused on bringing dealer finance customers an optimal balance of industry expertise and innovative financial offerings," said Ghram Debes, Managing Director and Head of Dealership Finance, BMO Harris Bank. "Joe Connolly is the ideal person to open our new Irvine office -- he brings experience, local market knowledge and a passion for providing a great customer experience."

Connolly will be based in the BMO Harris Bank office in Irvine at 15615 Alton Parkway Suite #450, Irvine, which already houses the bank's franchise lending team.

The BMO Harris Bank Dealership Finance team already has offices in Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Tampa, Atlanta, Kansas City, Akron, St. Louis, Crown Point and Washington D.C., and has plans to continue to expand into new markets. BMO Harris Bank's parent company, BMO Financial Group, has been actively serving the financial needs of auto dealers for the last 35 years.

About Joe Connolly Joe Connolly has 22 years of financial services experience, including over 18 years of experience focused on dealer finance. In his most recent role, he was focused on business development opportunities with automotive dealers throughout the western United States. A Central Michigan University graduate, he is on the Board of Directors for Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Center Inc., Hinkle Automotive Management Inc., and the Saddleback Valley YMCA in Mission Viejo, California.

About BMO Harris Bank

BMO Harris Bank's commercial banking team provides a combination of sector expertise, local knowledge and mid-market focus throughout the U.S. BMO Harris Bank provides a broad range of personal banking products and solutions through over 600 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nevada, Arizona and Florida. For more information about BMO Harris Bank, go to the company fact sheet. Deposit and loan products and services provided by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC. BMO Harris Bank(SM) is a trade name used by BMO Harris Bank N.A. BMO Harris Bank is part of BMO Financial Group, a North American financial organization with approximately 1,600 branches, and approximately $542 billion in assets (as of Jan. 31, 2013).